Penguin Apologizes for Recipe with ‘Freshly Ground Black People’ as Ingredient

Penguin Books Australia has come under serious fire for something that was nothing but a small typo that got past by its proofreader and then went to print. One recipe included in the famous cookbook “Pasta Bible” included among the ingredients “salt and freshly ground black people” in what has turned out to be one costly typing error for the publisher, SMH informs.

Not only has Penguin been forced to reissue 7,000 copies of the cookbook in a new version that does not include the typo, but also to apologize to all those who took offense in the little mistake – and there were many of those, it would seem. However, the publisher is not calling the books back, because that would be incredibly time-consuming. Instead, it promises to replace all copies of those who want to have it replaced.

“Penguin Group Australia turns over $120 million a year from printing words but a one-word misprint has cost it dearly. The publishing company was forced to pulp and reprint 7,000 copies of Pasta Bible last week after a recipe called for ‘salt and freshly ground black people’ – instead of pepper – to be added to the spelt tagliatelle with sardines and prosciutto. The exercise will cost Penguin $20,000, the head of publishing, Bob Sessions, said. At $3,300 a letter, it’s a pricey typo,” SMH writes.

“We’re mortified that this has become an issue of any kind and why anyone would be offended, we don’t know. It’s called the Pasta Bible, almost every recipe has ground black pepper in it, mostly in the same place [on each page]. In one particular recipe [a] misprint occurs which obviously came from a spellchecker. When it comes to the proofreader, of course they should have picked it up, but proofreading a cookbook is an extremely difficult task. I find that quite forgivable. We’ve said to bookstores that if anyone is small-minded enough to complain about this… silly mistake, we will happily replace [the book] for them,” Sessions explains in a statement cited by the same media outlet.

Written by Lee Blaylock, “Pasta Bible” contains over 150 recipes, other media outlets inform. Aside from the typo – which, even if offensive to some, is getting the new release (more or less) free publicity – reviews for the cookbook are excellent.